Neuronal dendrites are elaborate, tree-like structures that receive up to thousands of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic connections. The morphology and electrical properties of the dendrites strongly influence the way in which synaptic activity sums together and is ultimately translated into new patterns of action potential firing in the axon. This translation process, called dendritic integration, is the fundamental means by which neurons regulate what synaptic information is communicated to the neuron's network targets. My research focuses on identifying the mechanisms by which dendrites shape synaptic activity and action potential firing, as well as understanding how these mechanisms contribute to the neuron's functional role. An additional focus is on how dendritic properties influence changes in synaptic strength that, in turn, underlie some forms of learning and memory.

We want to understand how sensory systems function and develop. We use the binaural circuitry of the auditory system as our model because of its straightforward wiring and the biophysical specializations needed for computing the relative timing of sounds to the two ears with microsecond precision.